Technology

Tests at the University of Washington have shown it's possible to reroute brain signals to move paralysed limbs. The results could eventually lead to treatment for spinal injury victims. The study works on the idea that, although spinal injuries ... damage the connections which carry nerve signals, victims usually retain both the muscles in the affected limb and the use of the motor cortex, the part of the brain which controls movement. Unlike some parts of the brain, which work on a 'use it or lose it' basis, studies have shown people can retain full control over the motor cortex even after ... (view more)

While none of us look forward to growing another year older, there are some birthdays that are better than others. Among the most prolific is our "sweet sixteen" where for many of us, the dream of being able to operate a vehicle on our own terms ... becomes a reality. The first few years are all the same: the constant begging to use the family car on any given weekend is matched with stressed warnings by our parents to reduce our driving speed, turn down the radio and buckle up for safety. While we always practice "safe driving" when our parents are riding with us, the rules all change when we ... (view more)

At first glance, the Fitbit Tracker looks like an ordinary exercise device used for counting steps, recording calories burned, etc. However, the small gadget has received a great deal of attention from many of the tech industry's major players. What ... makes the Fitbit Tracker so special? It is the first of its kind to use accelerometers for data extraction purposes. In a nutshell, accelerometers are chips that measure acceleration, movement and gravity forces. This is what fuels popular motion-sensitive products like the Nintendo Wii and Apple iPhone. The cost of implementing an accelerometer ... (view more)

After showing the world it could safely conduct the Olympics, China has again drawn the attention of the global community. As if the country's steady economic incline hasn't been noticeable enough, the emerging superpower can now add space walking ... to its growing list of achievements. China's Zhai Zhigang is being welcomed home as a hero this week after he made a 20 minute spacewalk Saturday afternoon. The exploration was part of a larger operation called the "Shenzou VII mission", which began on September 25. Understandably, the Chinese are ecstatic. After Zhigang and crewmates Liu Boming and ... (view more)

On September 12, the west coast was rocked by the worst train accident in fifteen years. Twenty-five people died that day, with another 135 injured. Now that a few weeks have passed since the disaster, investigators are starting to piece together ... just what might have caused the tragedy. In case you missed it, on September 12 a Metrolink commuter train slammed into a Union Pacific locomotive in Chatsworth, California. Since that fateful day, the National Transportation Safety Board has desperately searched for answers that might explain the kind of event that doesn't happen very often -- ... (view more)

We have all heard the horror stories. A person spends what seems like an eternity walking around a crowded parking lot in search of their vehicle only to discover that their keys have been locked inside. A new mobile phone developed by Sharp will ... not only give owners access to their vehicles without the use of a key, but also create the ability to start a car engine without having to put a key in the ignition. Of course, there is one catch: The actual key must still remain in the vicinity of the vehicle prior to activation. The new phone will use technology similar to the "Intelligent Key" ... (view more)

When people envision the Italian landscape, images of ancient architecture, paintings and sculptures abound. Imagining old-world Italian cities as havens for hi-tech innovations is difficult for many. But located in the main piazza of Duino-Aurisina ... is a trash bin like no other; one that could potentially alter our approach to garbage collection here in North America while improving pollution and traffic controls around the world. The communal bin contains a small metal box about the size of a one-quart milk carton. A radio connection lies beneath the box, allowing the bin to "communicate" ... (view more)

The Large Hadron Collider, the machine tipped to revolutionize our understanding of physics, could be out of action for the rest of the year. Scientists had planned to use the machine to create a near light-speed collision between particles so they ... could answer fundamental questions like "what makes up black holes?" and "why is gravity so weak compared with other forces?" However, after an earlier delay with a power failure, the project is on hold thanks to a suspected melted electrical connection between two of the giant magnets which steer the protons (a type of particle ... (view more)

When you think of an "interactive classroom" what are the first images that pop into your head? Is it a classroom filled with computers? Interactive activities shared using a smartboard? Teacher-led discussions being conducted via podcasts? While ... some of the above items have been adopted into modern classrooms already, a coalition of researchers at Durham University (UK) calling themselves the TEL (Technology-Enhanced Learning) Research Group have aspired to redefine the concept of an interactive classroom, with the recent introduction of the first available multi-touch student desks. Think ... (view more)

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a 'house of the future'? Several companies, including LG and Toto, are working to re-define the way we think about 'housework'. Stepping into the kitchen, LG Electronics has a new refrigerator model ... complete with built-in cable television, electronic cookbook and weather channel for roughly $4,000. Other modern refrigerators boast advanced climate controls that monitor food expiration dates to let their patrons know when certain foods have spoiled. (Source: matr.net ) In a few years, manufacturers are even hoping to include a "projection kitchen ... (view more)